Ruling BNP splits in Bangladesh

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Dhaka: Amid rising political temperatures in Bangladesh, a group of dissidents resigned from Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Thursday and launched a new political outfit.

Around 10 BNP ministers and MPs left to join a new party led by former Bangladesh president Badruddoza Chowdhury and senior BNP leader Oli Ahmed.

Both Chowdhury and Ahmed are founding members of the BNP. The new party was named the Liberal Democratic Party at a press conference here.

Meanwhile, all kinds of demonstrations have been banned for an indefinite period in capital Dhaka. Metropolitan police also banned the carrying of oars, sticks, explosives and weapons.

The ban was enforced to "maintain order" as a section of political parties planned to demonstrate, media reports said, quoting a police statement.

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan announced on Wednesday that there would be no talks unless the opposition accepted retired Chief Justice K M Hasan as the head of the caretaker government to oversee elections within 90 days.

"We will hand over power to Justice Hasan as per the constitution," he said.

The decision brought the curtain down on talks and opened the doors for uncertainty and fears of violence as Zia ends her term on Friday after addressing the nation.

The Awami League has already rejected the appointment of Justice Hasan as the next caretaker chief alleging he belonged to the BNP.